Oscar Pistorius looks back a year after killing girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp

By Faith Karimi and Robyn Curnow , CNN

Updated 1412 GMT (2212 HKT) February 26, 2014

Reeva Steenkamp in photos9 photos

Pistorius' girlfriend dies on Valentine's Day – South African model Reeva Steenkamp died early on February 14, 2013, after a shooting at the Pretoria home of her boyfriend, Olympian Oscar Pistorius.

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Pistorius' girlfriend dies on Valentine's Day – This undated handout picture released on February 14, 2013 by "Ice Models" in South Africa shows model Reeva Steenkamp.

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Pistorius' girlfriend dies on Valentine's Day – Capacity Relations, the agency that represents Steenkamp, announced her death. "She was the kindest, sweetest human being; an angel on earth and will be sorely missed," the agency said on Twitter.

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Pistorius' girlfriend dies on Valentine's Day – The model was born in Cape Town and grew up in Port Elizabeth. She later moved to Johannesburg, where she worked for various companies, including Toyota and cosmetics maker Avon.

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Pistorius' girlfriend dies on Valentine's Day – Steenkamp, who had a law degree, has also worked as a presenter for FashionTV in South Africa and as a FHM covergirl.

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Pistorius' girlfriend dies on Valentine's Day – Her passion included cars and cooking, and she was set to appear in the Tropika Island of Treasure Show on Saturday, according to the show's website.

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Pistorius' girlfriend dies on Valentine's Day – "We are deeply saddened and extend our condolences to Reeva's family and friends," the show said in a message on its website.

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Pistorius' girlfriend dies on Valentine's Day – Steenkamp died after a shooting at the Pretoria home of Olympian Oscar Pistorius. She is pictured here on February 07, 2013 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

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Pistorius' girlfriend dies on Valentine's Day – A picture taken on January 26, 2013 shows Oscar Pistorius posing next to his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at Melrose Arch in Johannesburg.

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Story highlights

Olympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius goes on trial next month

He is charged with premeditated murder in the shooting death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp

Pistorius says he mistook her for a home invader

"No words can adequately capture my feelings about the devastating accident," he says

A year to the day after he killed his girlfriend, South African "blade runner" Oscar Pistorius broke his silence Friday, describing her death as a "devastating accident."

The double amputee Olympic star is charged with premeditated murder in the shooting death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, a model and law school graduate.

He has never denied killing the woman he calls the love of his life on Valentine's Day last year.

But he maintains that he mistook her for a home invader when he shot her in the bathroom of his upscale home in Pretoria.

Since being freed on bail, he has remained largely out of the spotlight. He released a statement Friday, the anniversary of her death, saying he will carry the "complete trauma" of the day forever.